Adjustable safety razor



INVENTOR dos 9,9/1 Een@ /yd//e Jan. 2, 1962 BY 41, @M m,- Ww fw- ATTORNEYS 3,l5,l58 Patented Jan. 2, i952 3,015,158 ADJUSTABLE SAFETY RAZR .loseph Rene Ayotte, 740 N. Ualdey Blvd., Chicago l2, Ill. Filed June 4, i959, Ser. No. 8iS,l55 i Claims. (Cl. Sti-d1) The present invention relates to improvements in safety razors and particularly to a safety razor with improved features for clamping a blade and `adjusting the razor to accommodate different shaving conditions and for releasing and changing the blade. The present application is a continuation in part of my copending `application Serim No. 762,313, filed September 22, 1958, now abandoned.

A razor of a preferred form for embodying the principles of the invention includes a razor head for clamping a blade therein provided with a guard plate and a clamping plate between which the blade is held. The guard plate has a laterally extending crowned fulcrum surface and the clamping plate has at planar supporting surface facing the fulcrum surface. The blade is clamped between the surfaces and the angle between the plates is adjustable to rock or tilt the supported rigid blade on the fulcrum surface for angularly adjusting the blade and its cutting edge relative to the guard plate which has a guide bar that slidingly contacts the face of the individual being shaved. This adjustment accommodates variations in shaving conditions, such as variations in the character of the beards being shaved, to improve efficiency and lessen shaving irritation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a razor of the above character with improved features for yaccommodating adjustment of the blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor of the above general nature wherein the clamping plate and guard plate are separable and are movable to a blade release position and by the action of improved mechanism to facilitate ease of use, more rapid action, `and more safe action.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved safety razor with improved features for clamping and releasing a blade and wherein the structure is less expensive to manufacture and assemble and is capable of a long reliable operating life.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved safety razor wherein the parts are less likely to become fouled with lather and wherein the razor is capable of continued eicient simple action over a long operating life.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved safety razor with improved features for adjusting, clamping, releasing, and changing a blade of a rigid nature.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent with the 'teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiment thereof in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a safety razor embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view ofthe inside surface of the clamping plate of the razor;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the outside surface of the clamping plate;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the guard plate of the razor as viewed from the side to which the handle is attached;

FGURE 5 is a plan view of the guide plate showing the inside surface;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of -a blade for use with the razor;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view of the razor illustrating the parts in closed operating position;

FIGURE 8 is a Vertical sectional view of the razor illustrating the parts in open position for changing the blade; and,

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary verticd sectional view, similar to FIGURE 8, but with the section taken at right angles to 'the sectional view of FIGURE 8.

As shown in the drawings:

As illustrated in FIGURE l, a razor blade litt is supported by being clamped in a head lll `which is carried at the vupper end of a handle l2. The head includes a clamping plate 13 and `a guard plate I4. The handle includes a hollow tubular sleeve lo, which will be hereinafter referred to as the hollow handle, and also includes a hollow barrel or tightening member I7 which projects into the hollow handle I6.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the blade ill is substantially rigid for improved shaving and its angle is adjustable without bending the blade. The blade has a rigid flat steel body portion l with a thin sharpened cutting edge i9. Through the body portion is an intermediate rectangular opening ZI with laterally spaced elongated rectangular side openings 22 and 23. These openings fit over lugs on the clamping plate to accurately align and position the blade in the razor head.

As illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9, the clamping plate i3 has a planar substantially ilat backing surface 2dfor the blade itl. Projecting laterally outwardly from the backing surface 24 and at one side thereof are a first pair of split lugs 26. At the other side of the backing surface spaced laterally from the first lugs are a second pair of split lugs 27. An intermediate lug 28 extends out- Wardly from the ybacking surface between the pairs of lugs 26 and 27. The lugs preferably have flat side surfaces to `engage the fiat ends of the openings 22 and 23 respectively ofthe blade and aligned and positioned with respect to the clamping plate 13. The lugs 2d and 27 have, preferably, square inside corners and rounded outer corners for ease of placing the blade.

Theaded into Ia threaded opening in the clamping plate from the side of the plate opposite the backing surface 24, is a blade adjustment screw 29 having a removal preventing cross pin 3ft. The head of the screw is provided with an index mark 35 which is corresponded with index markings 32 to indicate the setting for the blade. The screw engages the guard plae 14 to rock the clamping plate and blade thereon as will be described.

As illustrated particularly in IFIGURE 7, the blade adjustment screw 29 rocks the clamping plate I3 and the blade l@ clamped against the backing surface 24, on a crowned fulcrurn ridge or surface 3l which faces the backing surface 2d and extends laterally across the guard plate ld. The adjustment screw engages a surface 32 on the guard plate to controllably determine the pivotal position of the clamping plate 13 relative to the guard plate 14.

The guard plate has a guard bar 39 which is shown as being integral with the plate and which slides over the face of the individual who is shaving and determines the position of the razor head. Thus, rocking movement of the blade lli will control its angle relative to the guard bar 39 and to the face of the user. The guard bar is pro vided with slanted openings di for the escape of lather. Openings 33, 3ft, 36, FIGURES 4 and 5, are also provided to permit free passage of the blade positioning lugs 26, 27 and 2.3 when the plates are drawn together. Additional openings 37 and 38 are provided in the guard plate extending through the fulcrum surface 311 for reducing the weight of the razor, and for ease of cleaning.

As illustrated in FIGURES '7, 8 and 9, the clamping plate l?) is connected to a stem member 4Z. The stem has a bifurcated lower end 43 which receives a lug 44 connected to the clamping plate. A pivot pin t6 extends through the bifurcated end i3 and lug 44 to pivotally support the clamping plate lr and the pivot pin extends laterally substantially parallel to the fulcrurn surface 3l, FIGURE 7. The lower beveled end 47 of the stern d2 is closely adjacent the upper surface of the clamping plate, in the position illustrated in FIGURE 9, and is bevelled to limit the pivotal movement of the clamping plate. The bevelled end 47 is spaced sufliciently from the clamping plate 13 to permit free adjustment with rotation of the blade adjustment screw 29 but to prevent the clamping plate from having complete freedom of pivotal movement. This holds the backing surface 2.4 at a conveniently presented angle for changing blades when the razor is in open position as illustrated in FGURES 8 and 9.

The stem 42 has a squared shank 43 to present llat surfaces and the shank is received in a flat surfaced guide opening 49 in the hollow handle 16 thereby preventing unwanted rotation of the stem and clamping plate 13. The shank 48 and the guide opening 49 are provided with lather shearing means in the form of laterally extending holes 51 which co-act with a shoulder 52 in the hollow handle. This tends to shear lather gathered on the shank which would have the eifect of causing the shank to stick in the opening 49 and prevent it from dropping down to the open position of PGURES 8 and 9. Also, still referring tothe position of the razor as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, above the shank 48, in the position of the razor as shown in FGURES 8 and 9, the stem has a threaded portion 53. Above the threaded portion is an extension 54 which is lluted. The top of the fluted extension 5d is a movement limiting cap 56 which is suitably secured to the upper end of the stern such as by riveted portions 57 of the stem being projected through an opening in the cap and upset above the opening over the top of the cap. The cap 56 has an annular flared portion 58 which engages a shoulder formed at the top of a reduced threaded portion within the barrel 17 which forms a threaded member 59 with a threaded opening 6l of reduced diameter therein. The shape of the cap 56 prevents damaging the upper ends of the threads within the opening til when the razor is opened to the blade release position of FGURES 8 and 9. The threaded member 59 is withdrawn from the lower end of the barrel to provide an annular ange {at} which guides the iluted extension 54 into the threaded opening 61 without damaging the threads and to increase speed of assembly before the cap 56 is attached.

The barrel i7 has an enlarged knurled knob portion 62, shown at the upper end in the position of FIGURE 8. The knob is enlarged and forms an annular lower shoulder 66 which abuts the upper end of the tubular handle ld to permit tightening the razor in closed operating position as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The outer surface 6d of the hollow handle is also knurled for ease of handling. The end of the barrel is open and receives a plug 63 at the knob end. The plug is removable for attaching the cap 55 during assembly and may be of plastic or suitable material that can be wedged or otherwise secured in the open end of the barrel t7.

ln summary, the razor is opened to the position of FGURES 8 and 9 by the user gripping the knob end 52 of the barrel l? and rotating it to turn a threaded portion 53 of the stem t2 out of the threaded opening 6l of the barrel. The razor is held in the inverted position of FIGURES 8 and 9 and the stem and the clamping plate 13 will drop due to their weight down to the open position. The cap 5o will strike the upper surface of the reduced portion 59 of the barrel to limit the movement toward open position. The blade lo is then changed or replaced by being placed over the guide lugs 2.6, 27 and 23. The blade adjustment screw 29 is turned to the desired position and the user pushs the clamping plate 13 upwardly until the threaded portion 53 of the stem engages the threads of the opening 6?.. The barrel is then turned to draw the stern upwardly and to draw the clamping plate 13 against the guard plate ld. The razor will then have the appearance of FIGURES l and 7.

Thus it will be seen that l have provided an improved adjustable safety razor which meets the objectives and advantages hereinbefore set forth.

The mechanism is simple and reliable in operation and the liuted stem extension 54 and the shearing openings 5l in the stem 42 aid in preventing binding of the parts due to the adhering action of the lather and aid in longer operation. The parts are few in number, and are simply manufactured and assembled. The operation of changing and replacing blades can be performed very simply and very rapidly and the parts of the `razor are always maintained in their proper operating position making it unnecessary for the user to align parts. Adjustment of the angle of the blade can be simply and accurately performed and can be held for permanent adjustment if so desired with the adjustment remaining set even though blades are changed or the razor is cleaned.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the speciic forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A razor comprising in combination means for clamping and holding a razor blade for shaving including a guard plate and a clamping plate, a planar backing surface on said clamping plate for supporting a substantially rigid blade, a laterally extending fulcrum surface across said guard plate facing sm'd backing surface, a stem extending from said clamping plate through said guard plate, a pivotal pin extending laterally substantially parallel to said fulcrurn surface and pivotally connecting said stern to said clamping plate, a hollow handle mounted on said guard plate telescopically receiving said stem, a threaded portion on said stem, a at surfaced shank on said stem adjacent the clamping plate and positioned between the clamping plate and threaded portion, a rotation preventing guide opening in said hollow handle having flat surfaces therein and slidably receiving said shank, a tightening member having a knob and having a hollow barrel end projecting into said hollow handle, a threaded member within said barrel having a threaded opening of reduced diameter threadably receiving said threaded portion of the stem, a uted extension on said stem extending beyond the threaded portion and smaller than the threaded opening in the barrel to slide therein, an annular guide on said barrel projecting beyond the threaded member for guiding said fluted extension to the threaded opening during assembly, a cap on the uted extension slidable within the barrel and larger than the threaded opening to limit withdrawal of the stem, said cap having a flanged edge for engaging said threaded member outside of said threads without damaging the threads, a removable plug in the knob of said hollow barrel for attaching said cap to said uted extension during assembly, a plurality of laterally extending axially separated shearing recesses in said shank for shearing lather on said shank surface, a rst pair of split lugs on said clamping plate at one side of said backing surface, a second pair of split lugs on said clamping plate at the other side of said backing surface, an intermediate lug between said split lugs on said backing surface, a flat angled surface on said shank adjacent the pivotal pin for limiting pivotal movement of the clamping plate when said plates are separated, an adjustment screw adjustably threaded through said clamping plate for abutting said guard plate and controlling the adjusted clamping position of vsaid plates, and index means on said clamping plate for indioating the position of-said screw.

2. A razor comprising in combination a guard plate, a clamping plate, a stem connected to said clamping plate and projecting through said guard plate, `a hollow handle mounted on said guard plate and telescopically receiving said stem, said stem slidaole within said handle to guide movement of the clamping plate between la clamping position against said guard plate and a release position spaced from said guard plate, means pivotally connecting the clamping plate to said stem, means limiting the pivotal movement of said clamping plate relative to the stem when said plates are separated, a threaded portion on said stem, a dat surfaced shank on said stem, a rotation preventing guide opening in said hollow handle slidably receivingy said shank, a tightening member having a hollow barrel end projecting into said hollow handle, a threaded member within said barrel having a threaded opening of reduced diameter threadably receiving said threaded portion of the stem, a plurality of lateral openings in said shank for shearing the lather gathered on said shank, an extension on said stern extending beyond the threaded portion and smaller than said threaded opening in the barrel to slide therein with movement of the clamping plate, a cap secured to said extension slidable within the barrel iand larger than the threaded opening to limit withdrawal of the stem, and an adjustment screw threaded into said clamping plate for engaging said guard plate and 'adjustabiy positioning the pivotal position of the guard plate relative to the clamping plate.

3. A razor comprising in combination a guard plate, a clamping plate, 'a stem connected to said clamping plate and projecting through said guard plate, a hollow handle mounted on said guard plate telescopically receiving said stem, a threaded portion on said stem, a tightening member having a hollow barrel end projecting into said hollow handle, a threaded member within said barrel having a threaded opening of reduced diameter threadably receiving said threaded portion of the stem, an extension on sai= stem extending beyond the threaded portion and smaller than the threaded opening in the barrel to slide therein with movement of the stem and separation of said plates to a position for access to a razor blade clamped therebetween, and a cup-shaped cap on said extension slidable within the barrel and larger than said threaded opening to limit withdrawal of the stem, said cap having a laterally extending anged edge for engaging said threaded member radially outwardly of the threads so that the threads are not damaged.

4. A razor comprising in combination opposed plates for clamping a razor blade therebetween for shaving including la guard plate and a clamping plate, a stem connected to said clamping plate and extending through said guard plate, a hollow handle mounted on said guard plate and telescopically receiving said stern, a threaded portion on said stem, a tightening member having la hollow barrel end projecting into said hollow handle and having internal threads within said barrel for threadably receiving said threaded portion of the stem, a flat surfaced shank on said stem having fiat surfaces adjacent the clamping plate with the shank located between the clamping plate and threaded portion, a guide opening in said hollow handle having tlat surfaces facing said shank for slidably receiving said shank in non-rotatable relationship, and means delining a plurality of axially separated shearing openings extending through said shank and opening from opposed surfaces thereof for shearing a iilrn of lather between the surfaces of the guide opening and of the shank.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,086,388 Michael Feb. 10, 1914 1,496,295 Chance June 3, 1924 1,496,297 Chance June 3, 1924 1,534,665 Savage Apr. 21, 1925 1,548,471 Kepka Aug. 4, 1925 1,599,793 Schieren Sept. 14, 1926 1,747,815 `Carpenter Feb. 18, 1930 1,877,082 Thompson Sept. 13, 1932 1,888,962 Swan Nov. 22, 1932 1,942,692 Garretson Ian. 9, 1934 1,996,405 Chadwick Apr. 2, 1935 2,034,340 Gaisman Mar. 17, 1936 2,037,180 Segal Apr. 14, 1936 2,055,837 Dabroski Sept. 29, 1936 2,117,136 Black May 10, 1938 2,217,792 `Czurlson Oct. 15, 1940 2,555,105 Ayotte May 29, 1951 2,958,128 Narizzano Nov. 1, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 429,697 Italy lFeb. 2, 1948 613,247 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1948 

